The Gathering Storm (The Jacobite Chronicles Book 3)(68)

"Quite right," put in Lord Edward. "Ridiculous expecting a man to hang around and shirk his duty for a child that isn't even his. Women's business, that. No place for a man."

An uncomfortable silence greeted these tactless words for a moment. Anne looked down at her plate. Beth glared at Edward.

"When I married Anne, I agreed to look after the baby as though it is my own," said Richard. "It wasn't why we married, of course, although it was the reason why we married so quickly. I intend to do the best for the child. I will return to Flanders because my country demands it, and because my wife wishes me to." He smiled at Edward, who seemed to become suddenly aware of his faux pas.

"I certainly didn't mean … " he blustered.

"Of course you didn't," interrupted Sir Anthony, waving his hand at the servants to signify that the plates be removed. "When do you expect to embark, then, Captain Cunningham?"

Richard beamed at the baronet, obviously flattered by the premature title. He was still a lieutenant, although he did not enlighten the company.

"In March I expect, if we are to be ready to campaign in April. I await the king's command."

"We're all awaiting the king's command," said Thomas Fortesque. "It's rumoured that he has designs on making Cumberland Commander-in-Chief. It's ridiculous, if you ask me. He's a mere boy."

"He acquitted himself remarkably well at Dettingen, did he not?" said Sir Anthony.

"Yes. But it takes more than showing great bravery and getting shot to make a man fit to command more than forty thousand men. He has great potential, true, but he's too young and inexperienced for such a post."                       
       
           



       

"Is it not more of an honorific title than an executive one?" asked Sir Anthony. "After all the last time the army had a Captain-General was in ‘21, and it's done well enough without one since then. He will have no control in financial matters, and little say in the matter of appointments. That's the king's prerogative."

"Don't we know it," grumbled Thomas. "Cumberland would never be appointed otherwise. But you're right. He will have no defined responsibilities. But Prince William doesn't seem a man to be content with a mere empty title. And he has great influence with his father. That's what worries me."

"It's as well for you then, Richard, that your sister is on such excellent terms with the prince," said Lady Winter. "I'm sure she will have you a general in no time." She smiled at Beth before casting a sly glance down the table at Sir Anthony. "You are still on good terms with him, are you not, Lady Elizabeth? I hear you have not visited the palace recently."

Beth, who had been enjoying Richard's consternation at the disturbing thought that his sister might have influence with the C-in-C of the army, registered this barb belatedly.

"It's most unusual for you to be so misinformed, Wilhelmina," replied Sir Anthony mildly. "She accompanied me there only a month ago, and Prince William kindly entertained her whilst I discussed matters of state with His Majesty." He smiled warmly at his wife, throwing the conversational ball to her now she'd had time to prepare herself.

"Yes," she put in before Lady Winter could make any insinuations as to the nature of the entertainment Cumberland had provided. "We had a very interesting conversation. He took me for a walk in the gardens, which are very lovely even at this barren time of year. He is most partial to helleborus niger, and wished me to see it. Do you grow it yourself?" She looked at Lady Winter and smiled sweetly.

"Oh, of course," the lady affirmed uncomfortably, unwilling to admit she had never heard of it. "It is one of my favourites."

"I don't suppose the prince mentioned anything of his future appointment or his intentions to you, did he, as you seem to be in his confidence?" Thomas asked.

Sir Anthony shook his head slightly, but Beth didn't need that gesture to know she must not mention what Cumberland had said. On the other hand, she didn't want Richard to think that the duke never talked about military matters to her either.

"I'm sure you realise, Mr Fortesque, that even if the duke were to have discussed anything of the sort with me, I could not divulge anything that was said in confidence. We talked about gardening. I am sure he would not mind me saying that he is a keen gardener, and hopes to pursue his hobby when he has his own household."

"Which reminds me, my dear," said Sir Anthony. "Whilst I was out today, who should I encounter but the Prince of Wales, who was taking a constitutional with his dear lady wife, the Princess Augusta, you know. He reproached me for not having visited him for some considerable time."

"You can't visit him, though, and remain on good terms with the king, can you?" said Edwin. "George even dismissed his own servants for lighting Frederick's lamps, didn't he? And Handel was ordered to refuse Frederick's invitation to a concert."

"Well, yes, but that was a long time ago. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then."

"A lot of very dirty water," said Edwin. "There's no love lost between those two."

"Maybe not. But nevertheless the prince pointed out, quite rightly, that it was most remiss of me not to have introduced my wife to him. Like his brother, he takes a keen interest in gardening, and wishes me to see the progress he has made at Kew House. So I have accepted an invitation for Wednesday week. I'm sure I will be able to square it with the king. He and I are really the greatest of friends. He knows where my loyalties lie."



"Why didn't you tell me?" whispered Beth as the guests moved from the dining room to the drawing room, where card tables had been placed in readiness.

"Tell you what?" Sir Anthony said, carefully removing his wife's hand from his sleeve, and enfolding it in his own gloved one. "Please, my dear, you must remember, this velvet marks so when one touches it. I really regret having purchased this outfit. It was most remiss of the tailor not to warn me … "

"Stop trying to change the subject," she hissed. "The visit to Prince Frederick. Why?"

"I had no chance to. You spent all the time between me coming home and dinner either with Caroline, or droning endlessly on about the place settings and your worries that Richard was a murderous lunatic. Don't do it, by the way."                       
       
           



       

"Don't do what?"

"Warn him that if he touches her he'll be sorry, or tell him you think he's a gold-digger and that you intend to make his life hell."

"I wasn't going to!" she lied.

"Yes you were. I know you." He drew her carefully to one side, on the pretext of discussing the arrangements for the buffet. "If you do he'll take it as a challenge, and he'd be more likely to hurt her just to prove he can. Although to be honest, he seems quite fond of her, if not of the child she's carrying."

"So he hasn't fooled you completely then," Beth replied huffily, put out that he'd read her so well, and unwilling to admit that in spite of past experience his comment on Richard's attitude to Anne seemed to be well-founded.

"Not completely, no." He smiled and fussily rearranged a wayward strand of her hair, tucking it carefully back into place. Isabella and Clarissa, passing behind them, smiled at the intimate gesture and went to take their places at a table. He slid his arm around her waist and drew her towards him. She stiffened.

"Don't," she whispered.

"Why not?" he murmured into her ear. His breath was warm and soft against her neck. "You're my wife. We are allowed to embrace in public." He kissed the delicate earlobe and she shivered.

"You're being cruel," she whispered fiercely, maintaining her rigid posture and look of boredom with difficulty. "You know how hard it is for me. If it wasn't for that horrible cologne you wear I wouldn't be able to keep up the pretence that I find you distasteful. I'd leap on you and tear all those stupid clothes off you, and then you'd be sorry."

He smiled delightedly, and a mischievous look flickered in the blue depths of his eyes.

"I'd be sorry? You really think so?" he said quietly, his voice laced with seductive promise.

"Yes," she said more loudly, putting her palms flat on his chest as he attempted to draw her closer. She was aware of several pairs of amused or sentimental eyes observing them as they stood in the doorway. "Really, Anthony, you just warned me not to touch your outfit and now you're in danger of ruining it entirely!"

To stay in character he had no choice but to release her immediately and bemoan the spoiling of his coat, which was really too bad. What would the guests think? He would have words with his tailor the very next day. And more than words with her later, his eyes, warm and sensual, promised. She turned, intending to enter the card room.

"Wait," he said, taking her arm and drawing her to one side. "I haven't finished talking about your brother. I agree with you that he hasn't married Anne for her beauty, or because he's genuinely in love with her. I think his fondness for her is based on the fact that she's submissive, and has given him what he wants. If Anne tries to thwart him, she'll be sorry, I'm sure. But she won't. You've warned him that you have great influence with Cumberland, I've warned him that I have great influence with George, and your accomplice Caroline has warned him that she has great influence with his general's friend. He understood it. Leave it at that. Ah, Lord Thistlethwaite! So delighted you could make up our numbers! I am but a sorry player myself, and as the host of this little soiree … " He drifted off and Beth was left alone with all her senses tingling deliciously and the realisation that he had anticipated a barrage of questions about the prospective visit to Prince Frederick and had cleverly managed to deflect her from asking them.